Alexithymia and Autism Spectrum Disorder
摘要
Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties in recognizing and describing one’s own emotions, and it has been observed at a higher prevalence among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in the general population. There is significant symptom overlap between alexithymia and certain features of ASD, including difficulties in emotional understanding and expression and social relationship challenges. The cooccurrence of these conditions underscores the intricate relationship between emotional processing and social functioning. This chapter offers a summary of recent topics (interoception, facial emotion recognition, empathy, and decision-making) concerning the interplay between alexithymia and ASD. Furthermore, clinical implications and future research directions in this area are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and understanding alexithymia for tailored support and interventions in individuals with ASD.